Bengaluru: Joining the group of writers resigning their posts from the Sahitya Akademi, Kannada writer and researcher Dr Aravind Malagatti yesterday resigned from its General Council, while another noted writer Kum Veerabhadrappa has decided to return the award condemning its 'silence' over the killing of rationalist M M Kalburgi and Dadri lynching.

Sahitya Akademi award winning author, Veerabhadrappa said that he will be returning the award on October 15. "I'm doing this condemning the killings of Narendra Dabholkar, Govind Pansare and M M Kalburgi, and Akademi's silence on the issue; also against Dadri lynching,” he said.

"These incidents are an attempt to destroy the diversity of this country and it signals the entry of fascism in to India," Veerabhadrappa added. Veerabhadrappa had won the Sahitya Akademi award in 2007 for his book 'Aramane'. He has also authored an autobiography, 'Gandhi Classu'.

Confirming his resignation, Malagatti told reporters, "Yes I have resigned as member of the General Council and have sent a letter to the President and Secretary of the Akademi this morning. I have resigned condemning the killing of Kalburgi and silence of Akademi over the issue. It should have spoken out and expressed its condemnation against such acts."

Kalburgi (77) fell to the bullets of two unidentified men at his residence at Dharwad in north Karnataka, considered the state's cultural capital on August 30. "Killing of personalities like Kalburgi, (Govind) Pansare and incidents like Dadri lynching are an attack on the Constitutional rights in this country. They are highly condemnable," Malagatti said.